Sand distributing device



w. N DULL ET AL SAND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed April 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l umpuzz I Zz/eZJ Oct. 22, 1935.

W. N. DULL ET AL SAND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE 4 Filed April 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 up; P.Muiz/9ZJ.

Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for distributing material in the form of sand, cinders, or other abrasive means on the surface of a road so as to prevent slipping or skidding of vehicles on ice covered or slippery roads.

An object of this invention is to provide an abrasive distributing means which may be detachably mounted on the end gate of a truck or other carrier or vehicle and which is so constructed that abrasive in the form of sand, cinders or the like may be thrown into the device which includes means for spreading the material on the surface of the road in a predetermined quantity and in a predetermined direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a sand distributing device, means operable at will for effecting distribution of sand upon a surface of a road either in the front or in the rear of a truck or other vehicle, the device being so constructed that the quantity of material being distributed may be readily controlled.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this character, means for vibrating the hopper in which the abrasive is placed so that the sand or other abrasive will readily flow downwardly notwithstanding the fact that the sand or other abrasive is wet.

'The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the following detail description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail rear elevation partly broken away and in section of a device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is .a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section of the device.

7 Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. 1

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

.Referring to the drawings, wherein like no.- merals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral l0 designates generally a frame structure provided at the upper end portion thereof with forwardly extending arms ll having dependent arms l2, secured to the forward ends thereof. These arms l2 are adapted to engage on the inside of an end gate l3, which is secured to a truck or other vehicle containing sand or the like, and the end gate 13 is adapted to be disposed between the dependent leg or member l2 on the forward side of the frame In.

The frame Iii, as shown in the drawings, has an 5 upper rectangular frame structure I4 and within this upper frame structure M, a hopper I5 is secured as by a shaft or trunnions It. The hopper I5 is swingably mounted within the frame it. The hopper i5, as shown in the drawings has an inclined upper edge portion ll, which is preferably open and so inclined that the sand or like abrasive may be shovelled from the truck body into the open upper end of the hopper. The walls of the hopper converge to a discharge opening or 15 nozzle it and a spout i9 is secured to the discharge member IS. A vertically movable valve or plate is carried by the hopper l5 and a valve operating handle 2| extends upwardly of the wall of the hopper [5 so that the opening so through the discharge member [8 may be controlled from above the device.

An adjustable nozzle 22 provided with a pair of elongated openings or slots 23, is mounted on pins or supporting members 24, carried by the frame ill 25 and this nozzle 22 is adjustable within the limits of the lower portion of the frame If! which, as shown in the drawings, is reduced at the lower end thereof.

A sand distributing member, generally designated as 25, is disposed below the open lower end of the distributing nozzle or member 22 and is mdunted on a shaft 26 journalled in the frame is. This shaft 26 extends vertically through the frame l0 and the distributing member 25 is se- 85 cured to the lower end of the shaft 26, as by nuts 21 or like fastening devices.

The distributing member 25 is constructed in the form of a disc or plate 23 provided on the upper surface thereof with a plurality of radially 0 arranged plates or fins 29. The upper end of the shaft 28 has a pinion 30 secured thereto and a driving gear 3! is secured to a drive shaft 32 and the gear 3! meshes with the gear or pinion 36. A bell crank 33 is carried by the shaft 32 so that the L5 driving gear 3 I may be manually turned. A housing 34 is disposed about the two gears 38 and 3| so that, if desired, these gears may be provided with a lubricant which may be placed Within the housing and so-that no sand or abrasive thrown 60 into the open upper end of the hopper will interfere with the operation of the gears.

A cam member is secured to the shaft 26 intermediate the ends thereof and a lug 35 is secured to the spout IS in a position confronting 5,5

thereof secured to the frame I0 and the other end secured. to the spout I9 so as to constantly maintain contact of the lug 36 with the cam 35. By

the use of the cam 35 and the lug 3B, the entire hopper I5 is vibrated simultaneous with the rotation of the distributing member 25. In this manner when wet sand or like material is placed in the hopper, the material will readily flow downwardly and be discharged into the adjustable distributing nozzle 22.

In the use and operation of this device, the frame I0 is mounted on the end gate I3 or other wall of the truck with the distributing member 25 extending below the body of the vehicle, at either the front or rear thereof. The sand or other abrasive is shovelled or otherwise placed in the upper end of the hopper I5 and this material will then fiow downwardly toward the valve 20. This valve 20 may be adjusted to any desired position by means of the operating member 2i. Preferably, before the material in the hopper I5 is permitted to be discharged, the distributing nozzle 22 is adjusted on the supporting members 24 so that the material will be thrown out in a horizontal direction either laterally on one side or the other of the vehicle or rearwardly of the vehicle.

When the valve member 20 is moved to the desired open position, the crank 33 is turned and with the turning of this crank 33, the distributing member 25 will be rotated, and simultaneously the cam members 35 and 36 will vibrate the hopper I5, which is swingably mounted on the shaft It. While I have shown the shaft 26 as being manually rotated through the crank 33 it is, of course, understood that, if desired, the shaft 26 may be rotated by other power means which, if desired, may be connected to the vehicle in any suitable manner. 7 7

By means of the swingable distributing nozzle 22, the sand or abrasive material will engage the distributing member 25 on one side or the other of the vertical axis of the shaft 26 or in a position alining with the axis of the shaft 26. In this manner the direction of the throwing or distributing of the material may be selected and controlled at'will. It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

We claimz- 1. A distributing means comprising a frame, means for detachably mounting the frame on a support, a hopper mounted in the frame and provided with a lower discharge opening, a valve for said opening, arotatable distributing member disposed below the discharge opening, means for rotating said member, an adjustable distributing a nozzle interposed between the'discharge opening and the distributing member to discharge loose material on to the distributing member at a predetermined point, a lug secured tothe hopper, and

means carried by the rotating means and engaging the lug to vibrate the ho-pperr 2. A distributing means comprising a fram means for releasably securing the frame to a .support, a hopper in the frame provided with'a lower discharge opening, a valve for said opening, operating means for the valve, a horizontally rotatable distributing member positioned below the means for detachably mounting the frame on a support, a hopper, means for swingably mounting the hopper in the frame, said hopper having a 13 lower discharge opening, a valve for said opening, a rotatable distributing member disposed below the discharge opening, means for rotating the distributing member, a, member secured to the side of the hopper and cam means carried by the I0 rotating means and engageable with said latter member to vibrate the hopper coactive with the rotation of the distributing member.

4. An abrasive distributing means comprising a frame, a hopper, means for swingably mounting "36 the hopper within the frame, said hopper having a lower discharge opening, a valve for said opening, operating means for the valve, 2. horizontally disposed distributing member positioned below the discharge opening, operating means for the BO distributing member, means interposed between the discharge opening and the distributing member for discharging the abrasive on to the distributing member at a predetermined point wherek by to discharge the abrasive in a predetermined '8 direction relative to the distributing member and coacting means carried by the rotating means for the distributing member and the hopper to vibrate the hopper coactive with the rotation of the distributing member. '43) 5. An abrasive distributing means, comprising a frame, a hopper disposed within the frame and provided with a lower discharge opening, means for swingably mounting the hopper in the frame, a valve for said opening, operating means for the 35 valve, a horizontally rotatable distributing member positioned below the discharge opening, operating means for said distributing member, said operating means includin'gia vertically disposed shaft, a cam on said shaft, a lug carried by the lib hopper engaging said cam and yieldable means engaging the frame and the hopper to constantly maintain said lug in contact with the cam to vibrate the hopper upon rotation of the shaft.

6. An abrasive distributing means comprising a. "U5 frame, a hopper within the frame provided witha lower discharge opening, a valve for said opening, a horizontally rotatable distributing member disposed in downwardly spaced relation to the discharge opening, a shaft journalled in the frame 00 and secured at one end'to said distributing member, means for rotating the shaft, a camv secured to the shaft, a lug secured to the hopper, a spring secured at one end to the frame and at the other 1 end to the hopper to constantly maintain the lug '05 i charge the'abrasive at apredetermined point in the rotation of the distributing member. V 3

'7. An abrasive distributing means comprising a frame, a hopper disposed within the frame and provided with a lower discharge opening, means 'forjswingably mounting the hopper in the frame, I3

a manually adjustable valve for said opening, a disc disposed in a horizontal position below the discharge opening, blades carried by the disc, a shaft journalled in the frame and secured at one end to the disc and supporting the disc in downwardly spaced relation to the discharge opening whereby the abrasive passing through the discharge opening will gravitatingly fall on to the disc, said blades upon rotation of the disc throwing the abrasive outwardly in a horizontal position, adjustable means interposed between the discharge opening and the disc to control the initial point of contact of the abrasive with the disc and means operable upon rotation of the shaft to vibrate the hopper.

WALDO N. DULL. PAUL B. MUTZFELD. 

